Small Bullets (.224) and BIG game

[WildWill]

Few months ago I grabbed a Ruger American in 22 creedmoor that ha a 1:8 twist. I got it as "kids" gun at least that's what I told everyone . Been wanting to play around with a heavy 224. for awhile and that was a good enough excuse. Three kids killed 4 deer with it this year all with one shot. Talk about a flat shooter.

 

[np307]

The viability of smaller calibers on big game has been pretty well hashed out at this point. I cant imagine there's too many forum frequenters left who haven't formulated their opinion even in light of the rokslide threads. My favorite rifle to carry deer hunting is my Ruger Ranch 5.56 and it will absolutely be the rifle my son learns to deer hunt with.

I also dont doubt that there's going to be some people that dont need to be shooting big game that do so with smaller calibers. I think they'd still be out there regardless of the current discussion though.

And I get a little tired of the crowd over there acting like anybody who doesn't want to shoot a moose with a .223 is a moron.

 

[44hunter45]

The viability of smaller calibers on big game has been pretty well hashed out at this point. I cant imagine there's too many forum frequenters left who haven't formulated their opinion even in light of the rokslide threads. My favorite rifle to carry deer hunting is my Ruger Ranch 5.56 and it will absolutely be the rifle my son learns to deer hunt with.

I also dont doubt that there's going to be some people that dont need to be shooting big game that do so with smaller calibers. I think they'd still be out there regardless of the current discussion though.

And I get a little tired of the crowd over there acting like anybody who doesn't want to shoot a moose with a .223 is a moron.

There,

You said what I was trying to say.

 

[D_Walt]

My son shot a whitetail doe with a 77tmk out of a 223 this past Saturday, 100 yards or so, doe weighed 99 pounds on the hoof. Right behind the shoulder, she went about 20 yards. Not a drop of blood, no exit. It killed her just fine, but in our extremely thick cactus and thorn scrub brush down here finding an animal that is not leaking can be very difficult. In more open country I’d have no issue using that combo again.

 

[Gerald Martin]

Here I am trying to figure out if a 6.5 PRC is enough gun to make my designated all round for everything one and done next rifle and you guys are talking about sub 100 grain .22 caliber bullets.

 

[DFS]

Here I am trying to figure out if a 6.5 PRC is enough gun to make my designated all round for everything one and done next rifle and you guys are talking about sub 100 grain .22 caliber bullets.

Do it! 140 Gameking

 

[Carl]

And I get a little tired of the crowd over there acting like anybody who doesn't want to shoot a moose with a .223 is a moron.

Some guys get religious about it, which can certainly be a turn off.

Here I am trying to figure out if a 6.5 PRC is enough gun to make my designated all round for everything one and done next rifle and you guys are talking about sub 100 grain .22 caliber bullets.

I bet that works

When in a position where people are asking about hunting rounds, 90% of the time I recommend a 6.5 something.

 

[Drake4]

Here I am trying to figure out if a 6.5 PRC is enough gun to make my designated all round for everything one and done next rifle and you guys are talking about sub 100 grain .22 caliber bullets.

Pretty much where I'm at Gerald. My 6.5 is so fun to shoot, I rarely grab anything else. Long range elk included. Once my suppressor gets here this Spring, it'll be hard to want to shoot my other rifles. My next rifle will probably be a .22 creed.

 

[Frequently Banned Troll]

Here I am trying to figure out if a 6.5 PRC is enough gun to make my designated all round for everything one and done next rifle and you guys are talking about sub 100 grain .22 caliber bullets.

It’s definitely enough.

I steered my son that direction. He’s burned through all the factory ammo I’ve had around and I’m going to start stuffing bullets for him.

 

[brockel]

Killing critters just isn’t that tough. Bullets matter more than headstamps. That 77tmk is mean from 223 velocities to 22 creed velocities and is so fun to shoot

 

[mtmuley]

Just to stir it up, my RUM is still gonna get some work. mtmuley

 

[Frequently Banned Troll]

Just to stir it up, my RUM is still gonna get some work. mtmuley

I will say I was shooting at a little steel plate at 400 a month back with a kid that had a 300prc. I had my 223. Both were suppressed. When he hit it knocked the plate around and went “clang”. When my little bullets hit you could hardly tell it moved and it went “ding”.

But I shot 75 rounds that day, he shot maybe 10.

 

[brockel]

Just to stir it up, my RUM is still gonna get some work. mtmuley

I’ve switched to shooting smaller cartridges anymore I don’t even enjoy shooting my 6.5 prc much anymore.

 

[Frequently Banned Troll]

I’ve switched to shooting smaller cartridges anymore I don’t even enjoy shooting my 6.5 prc much anymore.

Nice to not only spot your hits, but see the vapor trail before it hits. Guy with the 300 was not able to spot his hits on the plate.

 

[mtmuley]

Nice to not only spot your hits, but see the vapor trail before it hits. Guy with the 300 was not able to spot his hits on the plate.

I will shoot my RUM until I can't hunt elk anymore. Some deer and antelope have caught light bullets in a smaller cartridge. I do both. Works for me. mtmuley

 

[Frequently Banned Troll]

I will shoot my RUM until I can't hunt elk anymore. Some deer and antelope have caught light bullets in a smaller cartridge. I do both. Works for me. mtmuley

You should do whatever puts a smile on your face.

 

[mtmuley]

You should do whatever puts a smile on your face.

I will. mtmuley

 

[Frequently Banned Troll]

I have permagrim when I shoot my rifles inside my house.

 

[Carl]

I will say I was shooting at a little steel plate at 400 a month back with a kid that had a 300prc. I had my 223. Both were suppressed. When he hit it knocked the plate around and went “clang”. When my little bullets hit you could hardly tell it moved and it went “ding”.

But I shot 75 rounds that day, he shot maybe 10.

Shooting volume is one reason I favor the smaller rounds. I shoot 80-200+ on a typical range day. When you factor cost and barrel heat, it's much easier to do when burning less powder. Not to mention, almost no one wants to shoot 100 rounds of magnum from a lightweight rifle in one sitting.

I shot my 7 PRC back to back with my 243 on Friday, same conditions. The 7 PRC needed a .9 mil windage correction at 1000, the 243 a 1.1 mil correction. There's a ballistic advantage to the larger rounds when optimized, but it comes at a cost.

Nice to not only spot your hits, but see the vapor trail before it hits. Guy with the 300 was not able to spot his hits on the plate.

My move to smaller rounds for hunting has been part curiosity, part wanting to be able to spot shots with light rifles from imperfect positions. I can spot them at medium distance with my 7 PRC when my position is perfect, but as recoil goes down positional forgiveness goes up.

 

[Hams42]

After I saw Tyler Freel's video about shooting his moose with a 22 ARC I started to dive a little deeper in the small caliber conversation. Maybe I am a wuss or maybe I'm just starting to learn more things the older I get but I don't like recoil. I have a 7 mag that has relatively low recoil but it weighs 12 pounds and I am tired of carrying it around. After shooting Hammer bullets last year I have decided that I want a 22 ARC or 22 Creed. I like the idea of fast low recoil rounds. Having a bullet with a solid shank and 3 to 5 petals coming off making a wound channel gives me confidence to hunt with it. With ALL of that said though, I still can't see myself shooting an elk with a .224. I'm sure it would work but I'd rather put a bigger hole in them.